MURRIETA: Students arrested in connection with threats against Vista Murrieta

Two Vista Murrieta High School students were arrested this week in connection with online threats reportedly made against the high school, authorities said Friday.

The boys, both 15-year-old Murrieta residents, were arrested Wednesday and booked into Southwest Juvenile Hall in French Valley on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad stated in a news release.

It is The Californian's policy not to identify juveniles accused of crimes, in most cases.

Parents of Vista Murrieta students were notified of the arrests by Principal Darren Daniel with a call Friday.

Law enforcement officers on the East Coast were notified about an online conversation involving a plan to attack the school and the FBI became involved in the investigation, said Murrieta Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Karen Parris.

Murrieta police officers notified school district officials of the threat Aug. 8.

Parris said the online conversation was held on a website that allows people to communicate anonymously.

"We are very thankful the person on the other end of the conversation reported it to law enforcement," she said.

As to the nature of the threats, Parris said they involved "violent acts" and she pointed to their arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.

"I think that pretty much sums it up," she said.

The determination on the credibility of the threats was made by the FBI, she added.

Citing juvenile privacy laws, the Riverside County district attorney's office would not comment on the investigation, or whether charges had been filed. In general, however, minors found guilty and convicted in the juvenile justice system can be held in custody until the age of 25.

Before taking the reins in Murrieta in 2006, Superintendent Stan Scheer worked in Littleton, Colo., at
a school district adjacent to the one
that includes Columbine High School, which was the site of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history.

"On a personal level it's difficult to put in words the responsibility I feel, the people who work here feel, for the safety of kids," Scheer said Friday, talking about his reaction to the news of the arrests.

"You realize this is real," he said. Regarding school safety, he added, "this has to be as high a priority as we can make it."

Contrasting this week's arrests with the Columbine attack, Scheer said he is thankful for the person who stepped up and told law enforcement officers about the threat.

"If that would have happened in Columbine, (the shooting) would never have happened, someone saying 'Something is not quite right here,'" he said.

Although the district is prohibited from releasing information about student disciplinary actions, Student Support Director Butch Owens is quoted in a district news release as saying, "Generally speaking if a student makes threats to commit violence on school grounds, the discipline could range from suspension to expulsion."

The district maintains an anonymous tip line at 800-782-7463 where people can share information about anyone who has committed a crime or report suspicious activity.

The first day of school for Vista Murrieta is Tuesday. Parris said the principal will be conducting a meeting Monday with staff members and teachers to prepare them for any questions students might have.